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Step in right direction: GPS issues on buses fixed, Transit says

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/02/04/step-in-the-right-...

WINNIPEG Transit says the GPS failure that wreaked havoc with bus schedules for several months has been fixed.

That will provide much more extensive and accurate data to help improve the new primary transit network, said Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West).

“It’s just so huge because there’s a lot of conversation and suggestions and feedback that we’re getting that the buses aren’t connecting (well)… We can now take some of those buses that aren’t being utilized (enough and) put them on routes that need higher frequency, so we can make those connections. This (repair) is huge and this is great news,” said Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee.

On July 7, a “widespread” GPS issue meant incorrect bus arrival times appeared on Navigo, bus schedule boards and Transit’s website, Transit previously noted. About 18 to 24 per cent of bus location reports were incorrect at the peak of the problem.

On Wednesday, Transit said the number of GPS error messages is now within one per cent of a normal “baseline” error level of about three to four per cent of all reports.

That improvement was first achieved in November but hasn’t impacted routes yet, since schedules take time to plan out.

Transit expects the more accurate data will start helping to improve some routes in April, since the GPS system collects ridership data as well as bus timing details.

Lukes noted the GPS failure began at the worst possible time, shortly after Transit switched to a new route network on June 29, which changed virtually every route in the city.

The new spine-and-feeder concept, where direct spines along major corridors are supported by a network of feeder routes, means many rides that begin outside of a main route now require transfers, making bus timing even more important.

Lukes said the failures had nothing to do with the route change but added confusion just as riders were learning the new system, noting it wasn’t clear what caused some missed and late buses.

Following a presentation at a public works meeting Wednesday, Winnipeg Transit officials said the more accurate data that’s now available will allow the city to pinpoint where some changes are needed.

“It gives us the ability to know where our passengers are with a higher degree of certainty. So, when we look at making some of the changes in terms of redistributing frequency (of buses) … we know exactly where and when you want to place the frequency,” said Adam Budowski, a senior Transit planner.

“(We’re) looking forward to April (when) we’re making additional changes, more changes to frequency of routes like the F8.

We’re improving that even more,” said Budowski.

Transit declined to offer further details of upcoming changes, noting those will be released in a future report.

The fix should also make some buses easier to track for riders. That’s because arrival times posted online for buses with glitching GPS systems would rely only on the bus schedule, instead of reflecting real-time delays.

Winnipeg Transit director Greg Ewankiw said the issue required a lengthy process to fix.

“We had to install a cable on each bus. And as you get to the older models of buses, the cabling becomes more complex, so it actually takes longer for each bus to (be fixed),” said Ewankiw.

He said about 45 remaining buses still have cable issues that are now being addressed, a relatively small portion of Transit’s 640-bus fleet.

“We actually have better reporting (on locations) now than what we did before this problem even started,” said Ewankiw.

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